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Released:  1992

Recorded:  1992

Genre:  Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Southern Metal

Record Label:  Geffen

Duration:  42:48

Producers:  Brendan O’Brien

[expand title=”Band” trigpos=”above” tag=”h22″](Regular band members in bold.)

• Jesse Dupree – Vocals, Chainsaw
• Jimmy Stiff – Guitars
• Jeff Worley – Guitars
• Thomas Bettini – Bass
• Chris Worley – Drums
•  [/expand]

[expand title=”Track Listing” trigpos=”above” tag=”h22″]

1. I Stand Alone
2. Dirty Little Mind
3. Down On Me
4. When Will It Rain
5. Redneck Punk
6. The Lumberjack
7. Reach for Me
8. Back Off Brother
9. Brain Drain
10. Just Like a Devil
11. She Loves My Cock (only on unedited album) [/expand]

[expand title=”Singles” trigpos=”above” tag=”h22″]

1. I Stand Alone
2. When Will It Rain
3. Down On Me [/expand]

Jackyl hit the scene a little late to grow beyond their first album. Debuting in 1992, any rock music that wasn’t grunge OR from the city of Seattle was having a difficult time on the radio airwaves. So you can imagine that a band from Kennesaw Georgia might go completely unnoticed by the public. Good thing these nice southern gents could give two fucks what you think. Jackyl is one of the few bands who had the balls to do exactly what they wanted and exactly how they wanted.

Their self-titled debut album Jackyl features a track titled “She Loves My Cock” which can only be found on the unedited album. The album cover also features some suggestive themes such as violence and drinking. For those 2 reasons alone, the wholesome superstore K-Mart refused to carry their album unless changes were made. In an act of defiance only punk rockstars would attempt, the band pulled up in front of a K-Mart driving an 18-wheeler with a flat bed loaded with speakers and instruments. They then played an impromptu mini-concert right there! When the police arrived, they proudly stated that they did not have the proper permits for pretty much anything. No fucks were given by Jackyl. If that’s not fucking one of the most rock n’ roll moves you’ve ever heard of, then you better give me something more badass. A music video was actually put together using footage from the gig, check it out below.

And in case you ever felt like questioning the band’s intentions as rockstars, then all you need to do is open the insert and read the bottom of the first page. Here you’ll read the words, “This album does not contain any pussy ballads or keyboards.” So now you know. And they’re entirely accurate as each and every song is a straightforward rock song. Jackyl’s eponymous debut is an exceptional 11 track masterpiece that uniquely blends southern rock and metal with a youthful hair metal mentality. Being as these boys come straight from Georgia, their southern roots are ever present in just about every song.

The overarching theme on the album might not be intentional, but almost exactly half of the songs feature lyrics about sex, drinking, or some other raunchy shenanigans. “She Loves My Cock” needs no explanation, neither does “Dirty Little Mind,” but “Brain Drain” isn’t as identifiable simply by the song title. The chorus goes, “Brain drain, 190 grain. It’s not the caine. Not the Mary Jane. But the golden grain.” “Brain Drain” is an excellent ode to drinking as they repeatedly profess their love for drinking grain alcohol.

The radio single “Down on Me” is a more pop-focused effort from the band which bodes well for radio play. This one sounds like a blend of Blackfoot and ACDC in all of the best ways. While neither complex nor too simplistic, you will instantly have the chorus stuck in your head for days. Quite the opposite, the single “When Will It Rain” is not as radio friendly yet still received plenty of radio play. I find “When Will It Rain” to be the band’s absolute best effort on nearly all fronts, but especially the lyrics and tone. I picture the band writing and recording songs on a hot Georgia summer day. The lyrics are sincere and show real maturity in the band. Just read this excerpt, “When will it rain, I feel the heat burning through my shoes? / Soft shoulders are getting harder adding to my blues. / Can’t count the days gone by, can’t wash away the stain. / Left on the life behind me from which I came.”

I wouldn’t say that many of the songs on Jackyl have what I would consider high-caliber musicianship, lyricism, and the like. But one thing is for certain, this album is purely fun and enjoyable. Jesse Dupree’s voice might start to wear on you after a while, and the full-band synchronized yelling might also become a bit tiresome, but the simplicity and catchiness of tunes like “The Lumberjack” and “When Will It Rain” will leave you mesmerized. “The Lumberjack” features a nice little blues boogie-romp sound with gnarly chainsaw solo. Yes, you read that right. Jesse Dupree uses the chainsaw as an instrument, adjusting the throttle up and down for the pitch. It’s really fun and exciting and just makes you shake your head in awe.

Perhaps my biggest complaint about this album is the mixing of the lead guitar. It doesn’t really stand out enough to separate itself from the other instruments and blends far too much with the rhythm guitar. Ironically, the lead guitar efforts are extremely pedestrian, so maybe it’s for the better that they aren’t featured too much. The mixing of the bass guitar is possibly the best part of the album and shines in the songs “Just Like a Devil” and “Redneck Punk.”

Overall, Jackyl’s debut album is an excellent effort from the southern quintet. With a heavy dose of southern rock fused with howling vocals in the vain of Brian Johnson from ACDC, Jackyl is a unique album unlike anything before or after it. I truly can’t say that this album as a whole sounds like anything I’ve ever heard, and that is why it is extremely refreshing. The mixing overall is a bit weak, but with the right set of speakers, you can overcome this on your own. Jackyl still plays and tours when Jesse Dupree isn’t running his insane biker bar. Jackyl (the album) is an album worthy of being remembered and it’s a shame that so many have already forgotten its greatness.